LL Cool J, original name James Todd Smith (born January 14, 1968, Bay Shore, Long Island, New York, U.S.) American rapper and actor, a leading exponent of mid-1980s new-school rap and one of the few hip-hop stars of his era to sustain a successful recording career for more than a decade.

LL Cool J, 2002.

Jim Cooper/AP

Taking the stage name LL Cool J (“Ladies Love Cool James”) at age 16, Smith signed with fledgling rap label Def Jam in 1984. Distinguished by hard, fast, sinuous rhymes and artfully arrogant phrasing, his first single, “I Need a Beat,” sold more than 100,000 copies. His first album, Radio, was released in 1985, the year he appeared in Krush Groove, the movie celebrating Def Jam’s origins. Thereafter he outlasted most of his competition by constantly creating daring, fresh modes of expression—gaining airplay with rap’s first romantic ballad, “I Need Love” (1987), and prefiguring West Coast rap with “Goin’ Back to Cali” (1988), recorded in California. Criticized by some for his crossover success, LL responded by teaming with producer Marley Marl for the musically and thematically innovative album Mama Said Knock You Out (1990).

Following the huge popularity of that album, the increasingly versatile LL moved into acting. In addition to appearing in a number of films, he landed regular television roles on the situation comedy In the House (1995–99) and the dramaNCIS: Los Angeles (2009– ). He also continued to record, with Mr. Smith (1995) becoming perhaps his most commercially successful release to that date. Though subsequent albums, such as 10 (2002) and Todd Smith (2006), generated the occasional hit single, in the 21st century LL found himself increasingly overshadowed by younger rappers. Nevertheless, he remained a respected figure in the hip-hop world, which lent credibility to nonmusical pursuits such as his own clothing line. The winner of multiple Grammy Awards in the category of best rap solo performance, LL hosted the awards ceremony in 2012 and 2013.

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...star in the hip-hop scene, joined Rubin at Def Jam. The two, based in Rubin’s dormitory room, collected demo tapes from aspiring rappers and disc jockeys. In 1984 they had their first hit with LL Cool J’s “I Need a Beat,” a single that sold 100,000 copies. Rubin had created Def Jam to fill a niche that the mainstream recording industry had ignored, but the major labels took...

...their Rush Management agency, and in 1984 they set up their own Def Jam label; shortly thereafter, Columbia Records made a deal with the label and became its distributor. Def Jam’s first success was LL Cool J, a soft-spoken “love” rapper whose style was compatible with black radio’s still-conservative ideas of itself and its audience. Next up were the Beastie Boys, a trio of white...

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(born 1968). The American rapper and actor LL Cool J was a leader of mid-1980s new-school rap. The winner of multiple Grammy Awards, he became one of the few hip-hop stars of his era to sustain a successful recording career for more than a decade.